The annual BFX Festival, hosted by Bournemouth University, is one of the largest visual effects, 3D computer animation and games festivals in the UK. This international event inspires current and future generations of artists, technicians as well as engineers, with a week long schedule of screenings. talks, panels and masterclasses delivered by creators and industry experts.

Attendees can develop their creative and technical skills, learning from industry experts whilst connecting to peers and talent executives. The speaker line-up includes representatives from largest animation and VFX companies in the UK, such as Aardman, Locksmith Animation, DNEG, Framestore, ILM and many more. These partners also make up some of the jury panel.

Celebrating the finest computer generated animation and visual effects, the festival screenings will showcase emerging young talent and cutting edge short films in this field. Open to the general public and with professsional attendees, the festival is an opportunity to showcase the magic of CGI to a wider audience.

BFX Festival is exclusive to FilmFreeway, and all short films nominated for awards are selected from FilmFreeway submissions.

The festival also includes the family event aimed for children and families who are excited about animation, games and creativity in general.

The festival takes place every autumn in Bournemouth, UK.

Awards will be presented on the night by sponsors and industry partners. These include:
Best New Talent
Best International Animated Short
Best UK Animated Short
Best VFX
Best Experimental

BFX Festival, Computer Animation Track, Terms & Conditions

1. Eligibility
The computer animation track is open to teams and individuals who use 3D computer animation and Visual Effects for their works. Submissions must be original works created by the entrant(s). Collaborative works are allowed, provided all contributors are credited.

2. Categories
New Talent
International Short Animation
UK Short Animation
Experimental
VFX

3. Submission Guidelines
All entries must be submitted through the official festival submission portal. Each entry must include a completed entry form, including the following details: title, synopsis, duration, and contact information. Entries must be in a high-quality digital format (e.g., MP4, MOV) with a resolution of HDTV or higher. Physical submissions (e.g., DVDs) are not accepted. All entries in a language other than English must include English subtitles.
A separate entry form and fee are required for each submission.

4. Entry Fees
A small entry fee is required for each submission. Discounts are available for student entries with a valid student ID.

5. Deadlines
Submissions must be received by the specified deadlines. Late submissions will not be accepted. Deadlines are as follows:
Early Bird Deadline: 25 July 2024
Regular Deadline: 1 September 2024
Late Deadline: 21 September 2024

6. Judging and Selection
Entries will be judged by a panel that includes industry professionals from UK animation and VFX companies and academics from The National Centre for Computer Animation. Selection criteria include originality, creativity, technical skill, storytelling, and overall impact. Submissions selected for the festival programme will be notified via email by 30 September 2024. All selected entries will be screened during the festival.

7. Screening Rights
By submitting an entry, participants grant the festival the right to screen their work during the festival and use clips or stills for marketing and promotional purposes. Entrants retain all ownership rights to their submissions.

8. Intellectual Property
Submissions must not infringe on any third-party copyrights, trademarks, or other rights. Any use of copyrighted material within the submission (e.g., music, images) must have the appropriate licenses or permissions.

9. Disqualification
The festival reserves the right to disqualify any entry that does not adhere to these rules and conditions.

10. Liability
The festival is not responsible for any loss or damage to entries during the submission process. Participants are responsible for ensuring they have backup copies of their work.

11. Changes and Cancellations
The BFX festival reserves the right to make changes to the rules and conditions, and to cancel the computer animation track if necessary. In the event of a cancellation, entry fees will be refunded.

12. Contact Information
For any inquiries or further information, participants can contact the festival organizers at bfx@bournemouth.ac.uk or visit the festival website at https://www.bfxfestival.com/.